Author: Daniel

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Discussions Torah

Bread of Heaven, bread of vengeance, bread of mercy (Exodus 10:1–13:16)

When God says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay” (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30), He means it. We can take matters into our own hands and enact a form of justice on those who commit evil against us and our people, but we can only right the wrong done to us. Our acts of justice don’t vindicate God and bring Him honor and glory.

We see the intersection of vengeance and mercy in the 10th plague on Egypt, memorialized in the annual remembrances of Passover and Unleavened Bread, two key lessons in the Torah reading בוא Bo (“come,” Exodus 10:1-13:16).

They also are key lessons that teach us about the Messiah in the Gospels.

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Discussions Torah

How to be a righteous leader (Exodus 1:1–6:1)

In the Torah reading שמות Shemot (“names,” Ex. 1:1–6:1) and its parallel passage, we learn about Moses and Samuel, great leaders of ancient Israel. But their greatness came from their humility, not grasping at the reins of power. Because of their meekness, Heaven appointed them to be chief agents of the power of Heaven on Earth.

How much more does the Messiah, the exact representation of Heaven (Heb. 1:3), show us what a faith-worth leader should be.

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Discussions Torah

Will we recognize our Jewish Messiah when He returns? (Genesis 44:18–47:27)

Just as Judah and his brothers did not recognize the gentile Egyptian governor as their flesh and blood Hebrew brother Joseph, many Christians may not recognize their Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth, when He returns to Earth for His bride.

In Torah reading ויגש Vayigash (“he approached,” Genesis 44:18–47:27), Joseph disguised himself as a gentile to save Egypt and the entire world from famine. Yeshua’s apostle Paul tells us that the Messiah disguised Himself from His Jewish kin for a time for the sake of the Gentiles, but He will reveal Himself as our Jewish Messiah at His second coming. The question is, are we prepared to see Him as He really is?

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 37:1–40:23: How the first became lost and the lost became first

The accounts in Torah reading וישב Vayeshev (“he settled,” Gen. 37:1–40:23) of Judah’s hooking up with his daughter-in-law and Joseph foretelling the rise and deeper fall of his jailmates seem as unrelated as they are dismaying. But the two actually contain prophecies that reveal the transforming work of the Messiah.

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Discussions Torah

Best-laid plans of Jacob and Laban often go awry (Genesis 28:10–32:3)

The Scottish poet Robert Burns said, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”  This famous quote summarizes quite nicely the trajectory of Jacob’s life from the time he pretended to be Esau and took Esau’s blessing to the time he returned from Laban’s house 20 years later.

Jacob and Rebecca’s conspiracy to steal the blessing Isaac wanted to give Esau,  and Laban’s various conspiracies against Jacob had eternal consequences, as well study in the Torah reading ויצא Vayetze/Vayetzei (“he went out,” Gen. 28:10–32:2).

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NASB)

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 23:1–25:18: How Abraham got a peace of the action in Canaan

“‘You have heard that it was said, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy” (Lev. 19:18; Deut. 23:3-6). But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.'” (Matthew 5:43–45 NASB)

We can learn from Abraham, the father of our faith in God, how to put these words of Yeshua the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) into action in the Torah reading חַיֵּי שָׂרָה Chayey Sarah (“life of Sarah,” Gen. 23:1–25:18). Even as God’s hundreds of years of merciful patience with Canaan’s reprehensible behavior were ticking down, Abraham was praying for the nations’ safety and paying them a large sum for property in the area.

Discovery from this Bible study how God’s friend was an early ambassador of peace to the world.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Genesis 12:1–17:27: Why God cannot be bribed

When you are called to move, what is your first question? Do I move to the next town, next state, across the country or to a foreign land? We usually want to know our exact destination before we move. 


We also prefer to plan how we will transport ourselves? Will we go by car, train, bus or plane? 


In the Torah section לֶךְ-לְךָ Lech Lecha (“get going,” Gen. 12:1-17:27), Abram was not given a destination. It’s a strange place to be when you don’t know where you’re going. It takes trust to make the first step. And this is the beginning of his journey to become Abraham, father of faith in God (Rom. 4:16-25).

We also learn through this Bible study why all cultures are not equal and what was truly the unforgivable problem in Sodom and Gomorrah.